The Pakistan National Cricket Team’s team management made the unusual decision to leave vice-captain Shan Masood out of the playing XI for the first ODI against the New Zealand National Cricket Team on Monday, January 9.
The first of three one-day internationals (ODIs) between the Babar Azam-led Pakistan National Cricket Team and the Kane Williamson-led New Zealand National Cricket Team is currently underway at Karachi’s National Stadium.
The 33-year-old Masood earned his ODI recall after missing out on 50-over cricket for the previous three years. He last played one-day internationals for Pakistan National Cricket Team in a five-match series against Australia National Cricket Team in the United Arab Emirates in 2019. (UAE). In those matches, he scored 111 runs at an average of 22.20 and a strike rate of 76.55, including one half-century.
Shan was also named vice-captain, replacing Shadab Khan, who was ruled out of the series due to a finger injury sustained in Australia, and ahead of star wicketkeeper-batter Mohammad Rizwan. According to reports, Pakistan captain Babar Azam was unaware of the appointment of the new vice-captain, and the decision was made by the newly-appointed PCB chairman Najam Sethi.
Notably, at the pre-match press conference, Babar Azam stated that he is unsure whether Masood will play in the first ODI. “We can’t talk about any individual at the moment, whether he’s vice-captain or X, Y, Z. We will try to field our best playing XI and try to win the series,” he said.
Meanwhile, in the absence of Shan Masood, Pakistan’s middle-order positions are held by Haris Sohail, Agha Salman, and Mohammad Rizwan.
Twitter was abuzz at the news of Shan Masood not playing the game. “Lol then whats the point of making him vice captain when he can’t make the 11 ,” a user wrote. “Thus should feature on “out of context cricket ” just pak things,” another user wrote.
Here is how Twitter reacted to Shan Masood’s news
Babar had the last laugh ?
— . (@genwiine) January 9, 2023
Dosti yaari
— Pigga (@piggahd77) January 9, 2023
Bcci should also do this with KL
— Ansh Chaturvedi (@kanpuriye09) January 9, 2023
??normal day in pakistan cricket team
— Sarthak Tripathi (@Tsarthak_26) January 9, 2023
can india dare to keep KL Rahul out of XI who is bad run
— Shankr (@shankr_rcg) January 9, 2023
babar don't want to risk his captaincy
— Rahul Gaur (@its_rahulgaur) January 9, 2023
Thus should feature on "out of context cricket " ? just pak things. @GemsOfCricket
— sankalp choudhary (@sankalp1522) January 9, 2023
PeeCB
? Hahahahaha— Ranveer (@_22divided_by7) January 9, 2023
Just Pakistani players things
— Michael Scofield (@Saikishore831) January 9, 2023
Nam ka hi VC bnaya ha phir
— Ehtisham Siddique (@iMShami_) January 9, 2023
Lol then whats the point of making him vice captain when he can't make the 11 ?…. By the way who is vice captain for today's match then ??
— Rishank Sharma (@RishankSharma7) January 9, 2023
